



September 2014 minutes
09/11/2014September 2014 minutes
ELMIRA TOWNSHIP
OTSEGO COUNTY
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014
A regular meeting of the Elmira Township board was held on September 11, 2014 at the Elmira Township hall commencing at 6:00 p.m. with Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak calling the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members present were Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak , Clerk, Susan Schaedig, Treasurer, Diane Purgiel and Trustees, Dale Holzschu and Leonard Skop.
Others in attendance were Judge George Mertz, Assessor Debbie Dunham, Township PC Chair, Duane Hoffman, residents, Dave Johannigsmeier and Rocky Wright.
Leonard made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded by Dale and carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Judge Mertz asked the board for support in the upcoming November election.
READING OF THE BILLS:
10692 Accident Fund, workmen’s comp 765.00
10693 Michigan Township’ Association, registration Diane F 79.00
10694 Purchase Power, Pitney Bowes postage 500.00
10695 Municipal Underwriters of Mich, Inc. 6,875.00
10696 Crossroads Industries, Inc, clean-up day postcards 426.37
10697 Susan Schaedig, clerk’s salary 1,059.91
10698 Sandra Purgiel, deputy treasurer wages 159.00
10699 Ron Geiger, Ordinance Officer, Liquor Inspector salary 243.78
10700 Paul Hartmann, PC mtg 110.00
10701 Leonard Skop, trustee salary 128.83
10702 Jay Maufort, PC mtg 110.00
10703 Duane Hoffman, PC mtg 110.00
10704 Diane Purgiel, treasurer’s salary 1,533.49
10705 Diane Franckowiak, Supervisor’s salary 1,478.66
10706 Dale Holzschu, trustee salary & PC mtg 238.83
10707 Barbara Lewandowski, deputy treasurer wages 78.75
10708 WalMart, election supplies 8.57
10709 Spartan Sewer & Septic 90.00
10710 GBS, Inc, accucoding test deck, Primary election 8-5-2014 350.00
10711 D & D Assessing 1,700.00
10712 Barbara Lewandowski, reimb mileage 5.60
10713 Diane Purgiel, reimb mileage, phone, internet 149.20
10714 Diane Franckowiak, reimb phone, internet, use of computer 50.00
10715 Alpine Web 16.00
10716 Calvin Thomas, wages hall cleaning 118.75
10717 Pitney Bowes 85.05
10718 GBS Inc, master registration box 106.68
10719 Waste Management 112.92
10720 Dunn’s Business Solutions, 2 color copies 3.00
10721 Young, Graham & Elsenheimer, P.C., medical marijuana 62.00
10722 Anthony Esson, school bell 1,000.00
10723 Otsego County Historical Society, donation 100.00
10724 Susan Schaedig, reimb, mileage, phone & Internet 88.80
10725 Great Lakes Energy 449.66
10726 CenturyLink 44.75
10727 Michigan Dept of Treasury, taxes, July, Aug, September 720.62
E-Pay September, 2014 taxes 671.06
19,829.28
Dale made a motion to pay the bills. Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Diane P reported that there is an increased use of taxpayers using First Merit Bank to pay their taxes.
First Merit has reimbursed all the fees that had been charged to the township.
The Postage machine is working out very well.
M Bank CD 102,233.94 SVGS 82,009.12 NWST CD 110,211.39
First Fed ICS 230,974.19 Ckg 43,461.64 TOTAL 568,890.28
Tax Svgs 21,926.15 Tax Ckg 6,000.00 TOTAL 27,926.15
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT:
Duane explained to the board that Brett Cook may not be requesting a variance for an indoor archery facility at Hallock/Vega Roads. Mr. Cook appeared at the Elmira Township PC meeting in August, 2014 with some basic information. The PC advised them of the process and the information they needed to take to Architect, Todd Siedell who will prepare the needed paper work to submit to Land Use Services.
Duane also reported that there have been several complaints in regard to Boyne Valley Auction. Mr. Hoffman has made a formal complaint but he has not heard from Land Use or Mr. Biehling.
OLD BUSINESS:
Rocky stated that he will have the bell and canopy taken from the Elmira School site and store it at Jim Theisen’s barn.
He and Glen Kelso will restore it and build a structure to place it on at the original Elmira School site(Elmira Township Park) in the spring of 2015.
The board reviewed Debbie Dunham’s Assessing Agreement/Contract.
Leonard made a motion to accept the Assessing Agreement/Contract with D & D Assessing Service with Addendums from August 31, 2014 through August 31, 2016.
Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.
Addendums are as follows:
Purpose and Intent and the assessment of the municipality. Examples are deadlines for assessment roll, tax roll, warrants, etc…
Start and Completion During this time, the D & D Assessing Service will assess/reassess/inspect 20% of the township each year which is the recommendation of the State Tax Commission. A biannual report will be delivered to Elmira Township Board for the February and August meetings showing progress in this reassessment and other assessing duties.
Tax Tribunal
Tax Tribunal Judgments, State PRE Denials, Board of Review Actions to the Township Treasurer within 48 hours of receipt of said judgments/actions.
The Township Clean-Up day is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2014.
Attorney, Bryan Graham will monitor the new Marijuana legislation and when the law is passed he will draw up an ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS:
Sue made a motion to accept the 2014 Tax Rate Request(L-4029). Township Allocated millage .8850 and the fire department operating 1.0000. Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.
Diane P made a motion to donate $100.00 to the Otsego County Historical Society. Seconded by Sue and carried unanimously.
Diane P stated that the Otsego County Road Committee will be at the Township Association meeting at Corwith on October 21, 2014 to discuss the proposed roads to receive millage money which will depend on the need for repairs.
Elmira board members received a FOIA request from Professional Finders seeking certain financial information.
Diane F contacted attorney, Bryan Graham who felt that there is a strong likelihood that the request is in fact a scam. He suggested to respond in the following manner:
Because your request was made pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, Elmira Township is not subject to that statute.
Therefore, your request is denied on that basis.
To the extent you are making a request for public records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, your request is denied under MCL 15.243(1) (d), since those financial records are protected under MCL 488.12.
There being no further business to come before the board Leonard made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Dale and carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Susan Schaedig, Clerk